Conduit for washing machines



Dec. 28, 1937. STQDDARID 2,103,797

CONDUIT FOR WASHING MACHINES Original Filed March 19, 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet l Fij 65 66 66 [Hug/2X 0?- F ((475216 fizoddard,

Dec. 28, 1937; E, s. STODDARD 2,103,797

CONDUIT FOR WASHING MACHINES Original Filed March 19, 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Dec. 28, 1937 PATENT OFFICE CONDUIT FOR WASHING MACHINES Edgar S. Stoddard, Berwyn, Ill., assignor to The Conover Company, Chicago, Ill., a corporation of Illinois Original application March 19, 1928, Serial No.

Divided and this application April 25, 1935, Serial No. 18,085

5 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in inlet-outlet conduits for washing machines, and more particularly to dishwashing machines of the portable type.

Much difliculty has been experienced with washing machines and especially with dishwash ing machines of the portable type in adding the wash and rinse liquid thereto. In most machines it has been necessary to stop the machine if it is in operation and remove the cover in order to pour water into the tank. During the rinsing operation it was necessary to repeat the operation of stopping the machine, removing the cover, adding the rinsing liquid, replacing the cover and starting the machine several times to rinse the interior of the machine and the dishes therein. The rinsing, in many cases, was very laborious and had to be repeated many times due to the presence of many crevices and recesses in the machine in which dirt and grease could collect.

The amount of water placed in the machine could only be roughly estimated and the desired fixed operating level was usually not maintained. In addition there was no adequate provision made for removing the waste wash or rinse liquids from the interior of the machine.

An object of this invention is to provide a washing machine to which wash and rinse liquids can be added and from which waste liquids can be removed in a very convenient manner without removal of the cover and without stopping the machine.

Another object'of this invention is to provide a domestic washing machine which can be readily moved about and which is adapted to cooperate with an ordinary household sink in obtaining a supply of wash and rinsing liquids and in discharging its waste liquids.

A further object of this invention is to provide a washing machine, the liquid level of which can be readily determined and controlled.

Still other-and further objects of my invention will be pointed out or indicated hereinafter or will be apparent to one skilled in the art upon an understanding of the invention or its employment in practice.

This application is a division of my application Serial No. 262,652 filed March 19, 1928, and now Patent No. 2,023,107, granted December 3, 1935. I

One embodiment of the invention is shown in the accompanying drawings, in which- Fig. 1 is a view of a washing machine showing the inlet-outlet conduits and a sectional view through the water level indicating column;

Fig. 2 is a sectional view through the inletoutlet conduits and also showing a means for attaching the same to a tank; and

Fig. 3 is a sectional plan view of the outlet conduit and level indicating column taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2.

Referring to the drawings, a washing machine in connection with which my invention can be used may consist of a. tank 2| having an inwardly and downwardly sloping bottom 21 terminating in 2. depending journal casting 30 divided into an upper well chamber 4| and into a lower pump or ejecting chamber 42 divided from each other by the annular pump chamber cover 44. A motor 45 is suspended from the casting 30 and an impeller drive shaft 46 extends upwardly through said casting, and its chambers into the tank proper. An impeller shell 41 is attached to the drive shaft at its upper end and extends downwardly around the drive shaft into the ejecting chamber where the ejector centrifugal device-48 is attached thereto. At the upper end of the impeller shaft is the impeller 49. The well chamber 4| is in open communication with the tank 2| and the opening in the pump cover 44 is of sufiicient size to allow the drive shaft and impeller shell to pass therethrough and still permit Water and dirt particles contained therein, to pass from the tank 2| into the pump chamber 42.

The upper chamber 4| is provided with a tubular projection 50 which leads to a level indicating device and the lower chamber 42 is provided with a tubular projection 5 which leads to a liquid conduit.

The main conduit 51 is partly contained in a horizontal swinging arm which is adapted to extend away from the tank 2| so as to cooperate with the faucets or basin of a domestic household sink as shown upon Fig. 2 and which is also adapted to be placed over the cover 22 of the tank 2| when the machine is not being utilized as shown in Fig. l. The main conduit 51 is also partly contained in vertical tubing which extends up along the side of the tank (see Fig. 2). Adjacent to the bottom of the tank the conduit 51 can be continued into either one of two conduits, a conduit 58 leading directly into the side of the tank slightly above the dished bottom 21 and another conduit 59 which leads into a well in the bottom of tank and cooperates with the projection -5|. 7

The main conduit is constituted in the following manner: The funnel 60, which is preferably a casting, (see Figs. 1 and 2) is adapted to cooperate with an ordinary household sink. It can 68 is the horizontal tube 6| to which is attached the fiber handle 62 which may also be made of hard rubber, Bakelite or any other heat insulating material. The handle 62 is fitted over a knurled or roughened portion of the tubing 6|.

- To the end of the tube 6| is attached the nut 63 which is provided with a hollow portion 64 for containing suitable stufiing material. The tube 6| fits over and slides upon an inner tube 65 which is provided with a collar 66, which may be adjusted in different positions upon the tube 65 by means of a set screw 61. The tube 65 is rigidly set into the elbow 68. The tube 6| is adapted to ride back and forth so as to increase or decrease the distance between the funnel 68 and the elbow 68. The amount of friction between the tube 65 and the tube 6| can be regulated by screwing or unscrewing the nut 63 which will compress or lessen the compression upon the stuffing material in the recess 64. If it is desired to have a fixed length between the funnel 68 and the elbow 68 the length of the tube between 68 and 68 may be adjusted by loosening the set screw 61, and by moving the collar 66 along the tube 65 until it rests against the nut 63. The set screw 61 is again tightened and the distance between 68 and 68 will then be set so that the funnel may cooperate with a domestic or household sink in the desired manner. When it is desired to turn the funnel 68 so that it will discharge downwardly into the basin of the sink, such may be done by means of the handle 62. The tube 6| and the nut 63 can be turned in this manner without afiecting the adjustments or the predetermined length between the funnel 68 and the elbow 68.

The downwardly extending portion of the elbow 68 is rigidly attached to a vertical tube 69 which is provided with a collar 18 which can be set in any position along the tube 69 by means of a set screw 1|. The tube 69 slides within another tube 12, to the upper threaded portion of which is attached the nut 13. The nut I3 is provided with a recess 14 in which is placed a suitable stufilng material. The friction with which the tube 69 slides within the tube 12 may be regulated by tightening or loosening the nut 13. The elbow 68 can be turned at any desired angle since the tube 69 will readily turn within the tube I2. The length of the tube 69 above the nut 13 can also be readily regulated by loosening the set screw 1|, elevating or lowering the elbow 68, moving the collar 18 to its new position so it will rest against the nut 13 and again tightening the set screw 1|.

The tube 12 leads to the three-way valve 11. When wash or rinse water is being admitted to the tank II, the three-way valve 11 may be so adjusted as to close the connection between the conduit 51 and 59 and open the connection between the conduit 51 and the conduit 58. When waste liquid is being removed from the tank 2| the three-way valve 11 may be so adjusted that it will open the passage between the conduit 69 and the conduit 51 and close the passage between the conduit 51 and the conduit 58. The valve 11 is attached to the side of the tank by means of the nut 18, the enlarged portion of which is positioned within the interior of the tank 2|. The

two rubber washers I9 are firmly clamped between the three-way valve 11 and the nut I8.

The conduit 59 is contained in a vertical tube 82, an elbow 83 and a slanting tube 84 which fits into the tubular projecting hollow portion 5| whichcommunicates with the lower chamber of the casting 38.

If the wash and rinse water is run into the machine while the water propelling or circulating device is not in operation, the conduit 58 may be cutout entirely and'the combined conduits 51 and 59 utilized both for conducting the wash and rinse water into the bottom of the tank below the water actuating device and for conducting the wash liquids away from the bottom of the tank.

The upper chamber of the casing 38 (see Figs. 1 and 3) is connected to the column 98. The column 98 has a slanting tube 9| leading into the tubular projecting portion 58 of the casting 38. The tube 9| fits into the elbow 92 which in turn fits into the vertical tube 93 which extends up along the side of the tank 2|. To the upper part of the tube 93 is attached the gauge bottom 94, each side of which is bored so as to form the chambers 95 and 96. Through the center of the member 94 is drilled a hole between the cupshaped openings 95 and 96 through which is passed, and to which is soldered, a pressure tube I88. This pressure tube I88 extends downwardly into the tube 93 and terminates in a pressure bell |8I which is positioned in the lower part of the column 98 so that it will be partly submerged when the tank is properly filled. The gauge bottom 94 may be set in a fixed position upon the tube 93 by means of the set screw I82. The upper portion of the pressure tube I88 is bent over as indicated at I83 and then extends upwardly into the reservoir chamber 96. The cylindrical portion of the reservoir chamber 96 is provided with an indicating line I84.

The upper portion of gauge bottom 94 is threaded and the gauge top I85 is screwed upon it. The rubber washer I86 insures an airtight fit between the gauge top I85 and the gauge bottom 94. The upper part of the gauge is drilled out and countersunk so as to form a gauge chamber I81. The conical portion of this indicating chamber I81 is provided with the gauge line I88. In the. lower portion of the gauge I85 is drilled a hole in which is inserted the tube I89 which is soldered to the gauge top I85. The tube I89 extends downwardly and under the surface of the indicating liquid in the reservoir 96. The top of the gauge chamber is covered by a piece of celluloid or other transparent material I I8. The pressure tube I83 need not be bent as shown. The tube may be straight, if it is set 011 center in the gauge bottom 94 or if the tube I89 is either bent oil center in the reservoir chamber 96 or set oiI center in the gauge top I85.

The column 98 is connected to the upper chamber of the casting 38 so that any change of level in the tank is readily communicated to the gauge 94. The column 98 is ordinarily filled with water up to the level of the liquid in the washing chamber of the tank 2 I. This water will trap a column of air in the pressure bell IN and in the pressure tube I88. As the liquid level in the tank 2| rises the air which has been trapped in the bell I8I and in the tube I88 will be forced upwardly into the reservoir chamber 96. An indicating liquid in the reservoir chamber 96 will then be forced up through the tube I89 into the gauge chamber I81. When the liquid reaches the line I88 the proper level inside the tank II will have been reached.

The indicating liquid which is used should have a higher specific gravity than water and a muchhigher boiling point than water so that it will not readily evaporate. The indicating liquid must indicate the level of both hot water and cold water and the liquid must function practically the same without substantial expansion or evaporation between the temperatures of about 60 F. and 212 F. The liquid should have a higher specific gravity than water for the reason that slight changes in the specific gravity of the liquid in the tank 2| should not materially change the rise in the level of the indicating liquid. There is frequently a layer of suds upon the top of the water in the lower part of the column 90, that is in the elbow 92 or in the tube 93. This layer of suds is liable to materially aifect the level of the liquid in the gauge chamber I01 unless a liquid of higher specific gravity than water is used. Inthis latter case the effect will be very smalland may be neglected. As a general rule it is preferred to use liquids which are colored, or colorless liquids in which dyes can be readily dissolved, which are odorless, which have a higher boiling point than water, and which also have a substantially higher specific gravity. The liquids utilized should also be of low viscosity so that they will readily move in tubes of small diameter with slight changes in pressure. Alcohols. especially the polyhydric alcohols such as ethylene glycol have been found useful for this purpose. Some alcohols may have to be slightly diluted with water to reduce their viscosity, but the amount of water should be kept down so that there will not be any material increase in the vapor pressure of the indicating liquid. The reservoir chamber should be protected from the heat of the wash and rinse liquids in the washing chamber so as to prevent excessive changes in temperature. The exterior of the gauge bottom 94 is glass-enameled or surfaced with a reflecting material and is separated from the wall of the tank 2| by an air gap. The reservoir bottom is also insulated from the hot water in the bottom of the column by the air columns inside of the tubes 93 and I88.

To adjust the column so that the level of the indicating liquid will be exactly at the line I08 when the tank contains six quarts of water the following procedure may be adopted. Six quarts of water are put into the machine which should be previously emptied of liquid. Six quarts of water will just fill the bottom of the machine including the two chambers in the cup-shaped part of the journal casting 39, and the frustoconical bottom with communicating pipes and tubes up to the desired level. This will immerse the elevating portion of the water actuating member 49. The normal level will just be at the point where the frustoconical bottom 21 joins the cylindrical sides of the tank 2|. The reservoir chamber 96 of the gauge is then filled with liquid up to the line I04. The gauge top I05 including the gauge chamber ||l'| is then screwed on to the threaded portion at the top of the reservoir chamber 94 with the rubber washer I06 in place. The combined gauge top and bottom 94 is then moved along the tube 93 until the level of liquid in the gauge chamber I0! is at the line I08. The set screw I02 is then tightened so that the combined gauge top and bottom will be held in fixed position upon the tube 93. The pressure in the upper part of the tube 93 in the upper portion of the chamber I0! is maintained at atmospheric pressure by means of the openings Ill and 2 respectively. The interior of the chamber I01 is preferably coated with a layer of white Duco" or is nickel plated so that the color of the indicating liquid, which is preferably red; will be strongly contrasted against it.

It will be noted that the gauge is so arranged and positioned that the level indication will be vertically discernible to one standing at the machine and adjusting the swinging arm Gil-6| or valve 11. The device is especially advantageous over the horizontal view tubular gauge glasses since it is not necessary to utilize double seals to fix the tube in position and no grease from the cleansing or rinsing liquids can come into contact with the gauge and obscure it.

The operation of the level indicator may be briefly summarized as follows: The liquid in the tank actuates an air column, which forms a manometerwith a broken column in which liquid will not be lost when inverted or syphoned out when the tank is drained. When the tank 2| is drained the liquid in the lower part of the column 90 will also be drained.

The lower chamber 42 of the journal casting 30 in which the centrifugal device 48 rotates is separated from the upper chamber 4| by means of the pump cover 44. The cover 44 rests upon the shoulder |8| in the wall of upwardly facing cup oi the journal casting and is held in position and kept from turning by means of set screws. The plate 44 has a large central opening which permits passage of liquids between the chambers 4| and 42. Cast integrally with this plate and projecting upwardly therefrom is the vertical cylindrical plate I84 (see Fig. 1) to which is attached a sloping horizontal plate I85. This plate is adjacent the side of the chamber 4| and the lower part of the frusto-conical portion 21 of the tank 2| and is positioned so that it will form a pocket in conjunction with the side of chamber 4| and the bottom of the tank 21. The impeller usually is intended to turn clockwise as one looks downwardly thereupon. The impeller forces an amount of water into the open space between the plates I84 and I86 and the wall of chamber M. This water will increase the level indication in the gauge 90 so that it is possible to calibrate and operate the gauge 90 when the impeller is in motion. It is obvious, of course, that when a machine is operating a certain amount of water will have been elevated and will be in the form of a spray in the open body of the machine or it may be hanging as droplets on the side of the various racks and articles above the water level on the interior of the tank 2|. This will obviously decrease theamount of water which is contained in the frusto-conical bottom 21' and the chambers 4| and 42 of the journal casting 30. In order to get the correct six quart level when the actuating device is in motion and when the machine is operating it is necessary to position some means such as that shown to increase the level which will be indicated by the gauge 90. As can be seen from Fig. 3 the portion of the plate I84 which is adapted to rest adjacent to the side of the chamber 4| forces an additional amount of liquid into the column 90.. A certain amount of liquid, of course, will pass between the closely adjacent edges of the plate I84 and the side of the chamber 4|. This amount of leakage can be increased by cutting grooves in the portion of the plate I84 which is closely adjacent to the side of the chamber 4| or it can be restricted by attaching a plate of sheet copper I86 (see Fig. 3) on the rear'side of the plate I94 which will closely contact with the wall of the chamber 4|. By making adjustments of this character it is possible to obtain a correct indication of the amount oiwater in the tank while the impeller is in operation. In preferred construction it may be desirable to omit the plates I84 and |86 since they tend to accumulate dirt and food particles and they are not essential if the gauge is not to be operative when the impeller is in motion.

The lowest part of the lower chamber 42 of the journal casting 30 is provided with a tapped projection I95 (see Fig. 1). Into this tapped projection is screwed a downwardly projecting tube I96 to the end of which is attached the pet cock I91. In case it is desired to drain the Pump chamber of all liquid such pet cock may be opened and the small amount of liquid left in the chamber 42, after the centrifugal pump has substantially exhausted the liquid from the interior of the machine, can be removed. Ordinarily the amount of liquid left in the interior will be less than one pint and this will be principally clean rinse water which can be left in the chamber 42 of casting 30 without harm.

In normal operation the funnel 60 is placed under a hot water faucet, the valve 11 is turned to cut oil? conduit 59 and open conduit 58 into tank 2| and water is permitted to run into the tank. As the tank and its chambers 4| and 42 begin to fill, the pressure in column 90 increases, placing the water level gauge in operation. The gauge will show when the proper water level in the tank has been reached and the water faucet is then shut ofi and the impeller 49 is placed in action. After a washing or rinsing operation, valve 11 is again turned to shut off the tube 58 and open the tube 59 through which the conduit 51 now leads to the discharge chamber 42. The motor 45 continues to run and the ejector or pump 48 forces the water outwardly through the casting 5| into the conduit 51 and upwardly through the funnel 60 where it is discharged into the sink.

It is-to be understood that this description and drawings are presented for purposes of illustration only and are not to be construed so as to limit the scope of the appended claims unnecessarily. For example, the amounts of water desirable to be used will vary with such factors as the size of the tank. Specific quantities of water have been mentioned'without reference to tank size for descriptive purposes., Many of the structural elements may be replaced by'equivalent de vices without departing fromthe invention.

1. In a washing machine, a tank, a well chamber communicating with the bottom of said tank, a centrifugal pump in said chamber, an outlet conduit communicating with said chamber and cooperating with said pump to exhaust water from said well chamber, said outlet conduit having a vertical portion and a horizontal terminating portion connected thereto, and an inlet conduit directly communicating with said tank, said inlet conduit being directly connected to said outlet conduit. i

2. In a washing machine, a tank, and an inlet and outlet system, comprising an outlet conduit communicating with the lower portion of the tank, means for ejecting water from the tank through the outlet conduit, an inlet conduit communicating with the tank, a vertical conduit having a lower exterior tube and an interior slidably mounted upper tube leading to a point adjacent the top of the washing machine, the inlet and outlet conduits being connected to the lower tube of said vertical conduit, a substantialiyhorizontal conduit communicating with the interior tube of said conduit, a second horizontal conduit coaxially mounted with respect to said first mentioned horizontal conduit and having a funnel member on the end thereof.

3. In a washing machine, a tank, an outlet conduit leading from the lower portion of the tank, an inlet conduit communicating with the tank, a vertical conduit communicating with said outlet and inlet conduits, a horizontal pivotally mounted conduit communicating with the upper part of said vertical conduit, means on the outer portion of said horizontal conduit for receiving a stream of freely falling liquid when in one position and for discharging liquid when in a second position, and means for optionally closing either the inlet conduit or outlet conduit from communication with the vertical conduit.

4. In a washing machine, a tank provided with a downwardly and centrally inclining bottom having an opening in the lower portion thereof, a well chamber secured to the bottom of the tank around the opening therein, an outlet conduit communicating with said well chamber, a centrifugal pump cooperating with said outlet conduit to discharge water from the tank, an inlet conduit communicating with the tank above the bottom thereof, a vertical conduit communicating with said inlet and outlet conduits, a horizontal terminating conduit pivotally mounted to the upper portion of said vertical conduit, and a rotatable funnel member communicating with the end of said horizontal conduit.

5. In a washing machine, a tank, and a liquid conducting conduit communicating with the bottom thereof, said conduit having a vertical portion extending upwardly to a point adjacent the top of the tank, and a horizontal terminating portion communicating with the upper part of said vertical portion, said horizontal terminating portion having a fixed section attached to said vertical portion and an extensible and rotatable section telescopically arranged with respect to said fixed section.

EDGAR S. STODDARD. 

